2 Samuel 5:25

_AND DAVID DID SO, AS THE LORD HAD COMMANDED HIM; AND SMOTE THE PHILISTINES FROM GEBA UNTIL THOU COME TO GAZER._ Geba until thou come to Gazer. For Geba, see the notes at 1 Samuel 14:1:; Gazer (cf. 1 Chronicles 14:16), or, as elsewhere, Gezer. It stands in Porter's, 'Handbook' in the list of places not yet identified. 'But,' says Mr. Grove (Smith's 'Dictionary,' sub voce), 'its general position is not difficult to infer.' It must have been between the lower Beth-horon and the sea (Mediterranean, Joshua 16:3; 1 Kings 4:17); therefore on the great maritime plain which lies beneath the hills of which Beitur et-Tahta

17-25 The Philistines considered not that David had the presence of God with him, which Saul had forfeited and lost. The kingdom of the Messiah, as soon as it was set up in the world, was thus attacked by the powers of darkness. The heathen raged, and the kings of the earth set themselves to oppose it; but all in vain, Psalms 2:1. The destruction will turn, as this did, upon Satan's own kingdom. David owns dependence on God for victory and refers himself to the good pleasure of God, Wilt thou do it? The assurance God has given us of victory over our spiritual enemies, should encourage us in our spiritual conflicts. David waited till God moved; he stirred then, but not till then. He was trained up in dependence on God and his providence. God performed his promise, and David failed not to improve his advantages. When the kingdom of the Messiah was to be set up, the apostles, who were to b...

Verse 2 Samuel 5:25. _AND DAVID DID SO_] He punctually obeyed the directions of the Lord, and then every thing succeeded to his wish. How is it that such supernatural directions and assistances are not communicated now? Because they are not asked for; and they are not asked for because they are not expected; and they are not expected because men have not faith; and they have not faith because they are under a refined spirit of atheism, and have no spiritual intercourse with their Maker. Who believes that God sees all things and is everywhere? Who supposes that he concerns himself with the affairs of his creatures? Who acknowledges him in all his ways? Who puts not his own wisdom, prudence, and strength, in the place of God Almighty? Reader, hast _thou_ faith in God? Then exercise it, cultivate it, and thou mayest remove mountains. It is worthy of

GEBA - Better, as in marginal reference “Gibeon.” Gazer should be “Gezer” (Joshua 10:33, etc.); it lay between the nether Bethhoron and the sea; on the direct route therefore which the Philistines, fleeing from Gibeon, would take. The exact site has now been identified (1 Kings 9:16)....

EXPOSITION 2 SAMUEL 5:1 THEN CAME ALL THE TRIBES OF ISRAEL. As Ishbosheth reigned only two years, and David's reign at Hebron lasted for seven years and a half, there is an interval of more than five years to be accounted for; and we have given reason for believing (see note on 2 Samuel 2:10) that it must be placed after the death of Ishbosheth. The treacherous murder of Abner, and the tragic fate of Ishbosheth following upon it so rapidly, must have filled all Israel with horror, and made them look upon David as "a bloody man" (2 Samuel 16:8). But gradually his innocence became clear to all except inveterate partisans, and as the prejudice against him passed away, th

AND DAVID DID SO AS THE LORD COMMANDED HIM,.... In all things he was obedient to the command of God; Saul was not: he got behind the army of the Philistines, as he was directed; and when he heard the sound in the mulberry trees, he arose and fell upon his enemies: AND SMOTE THE PHILISTINES FROM GEBA UNTIL THOU COME TO GAZER; or from Gibeon, as in 1 Chronicles 14:16; a city in the tribe of Benjamin, near to which this battle was fought, and where the pursuit began, which was carried as far as Gazer, a city that lay on the borders of the Philistines, as Josephus says b; and so far they were pursued, and were smitten as they fled; and, according to Bunting c, it was a space of eighteen miles. b Antiqu. l. 7. c. 4. sect. 1. c Travels, c. p. 138....

2. DAVID'S CONQUEST OF ZION AND VICTORY OVER THE PHILISTINES CHAPTER 5:6-25 _ 1. David's conquest of Zion (2 Samuel 5:6)_ 2. Hiram King of Tyre (2 Samuel 5:11) 3. David's additional concubines and wives (2 Samuel 5:13) 4. The victory over the Philistines (2 Samuel 5:17) Zion is closely linked with David's anointing as king over all Israel. Here 1 Chronicles 11 must be read for a more complete account of what took place. Jerusalem is now to become the capital of the great kingdom. The oldest name

VICTORIES OVER THE PHILISTINES (J). (_Cf._ p. 67.) David twice defeats the Philistines in the Valley of Rephaim (p. 31, Isaiah 17:5 *). The growing strength of David had roused the apprehensions of his suzerains. These incidents seem prior to the capture of Jerusalem, and are sometimes supposed to have been inserted from another document; they may, however, be from (J), having been transposed by the editor. The hold is perhaps Adullam. The fact that we are told that David named the place Baal-perazim, Baal of Breaches, shows that the author saw nothing wrong in the use of Baal as a title of Yahweh (1 S. 4:49*.) The victors took. away the gods (so LXX and 1 Chronicles 14:12) of the Philistines. The Chronicler, anxious that his readers should not suppose that David intended to worship them, chan

AS. according as. GEBA. Abbreviation for "Gibeon". Compare Septuagint, and 1 Chronicles 14:16....

Two victories over the Philistines =1 Chronicles 14:8-16 17. _But when the Philistines heard_ This Philistine invasion probably followed soon after the capture of Jebus. The Philistines were alarmed by the union of the Israelites under a king of proved vigour, who had inaugurated his reign by a brilliant military achievement. They therefore mustered their whole force (cp. 1 Samuel 29:1), for a strenuous effort to crush him. _came up_ From the plains of Philistia to the highlands of Judah. _went down to the hold_ The word translated "hold" is the same as that translated "stronghold" in 2 Samuel 5:7, and "fort" in...